Theater People

You Guys!! We are the biggest Ryann Redmond fans ever! We first fell in love with her in 2012 when she made her Broadway debut as Bridget, the lovably awkward sidekick in "Bring It On: The Musical." From there, she went on to originate roles in "if/Then" and the critically beloved off-Broadway hit "Gigantic." This season she's back on Broadway in the Jimmy Buffet crowd pleaser "Escape To Margaritaville" which begins previews at the Marquis Theater on February 16th. We LOVED chatting with Ryann! enjoy!

You Guuuuuuuuuuys!!! We could not be happier to bring you today’s episode featuring the divine, the lovely, the just ridiculously talented Phillipa Soo. Phillipa created the role of Eliza Hamilton in last year’s off-Broadway production of the smash hit musical Hamilton at the Public Theater and this season she made her Broadway debut in the role. She first rose to fame in the title role of Natasha in the 2013 off Broadway hit 'Natasha Pierre and the Great Commit of 1812.'So, you guys, we have a really special surprise for you at the end of this episode. It’s a first for us. It’s completely related to our interview with Phillipa, but even she doesn't know about it. So stick around after our interview with her, I promise it will be worth it.

When Sierra Boggess made her Broadway debut in 2008 in the title role of the hit Disney musical 'The Little Mermaid,' she became an overnight not just star, but also idol, role model, sensation even in a way that happens so rarely to person appearing on a Broadway stage for the first time. She, of course, went on to star in the Broadway revival of 'Master Class opposite' Tyne Daily and as Christine Daae in London’s West End production of 'Love Never Dies,' Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera. I first got to witness the greatness that is Sierra Boggess on stage in last season’s 'It Shoulda Been You'—a show that I found to be so special for a variety of reasons that we’ll get into in this interview. She is currently starring as Rosalee Mullins, the sort of tight lipped, rulsey principal in the brand new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'School of Rock'—a show that frequent listeners know that I am completely obsessed with. I love this interview for a lot of reasons. Not the lease of which being that we did the interview in Sierra’s dressing room about 90 minutes prior to an evening performance and I think it really captures the bustle and energy of the backstage of a Broadway theater just before showtime. At one point we’re interrupted—good naturedly—by a stage manager, The charming Alex Brightman makes a small cameo, oh and then there was the moment Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself spoke over the PA system. Anyway, Sierra is a force of nature and just as brilliant as you imagine she is. It was so much fun to chat with here. Enjoy our conversation!

Broadway Leading Lady! Groundbreaking Stand-Up Comic! Recording Artist! Television Star! Lea DeLaria does it all, and we talk about all of it!From her starring role as Big Boo on the Netflix mega-hit "Orange Is the New Black" to her latest album, "The House of David," to her critically acclaimed turns in the Broadway productions of "On the Town" and "The Rocky Horror Show," Lea shares some of the most hilarious and outrageous stories we've ever heard! Warning: This episode contains a LOT of swearing. Lea has hilarious and important things to say and she DOES NOT CENSOR HERSELF!

The 'First Lady of British Musical Theater', Elaine Paige is bona fide musical theater royalty. Best known for having originated the roles of Eva Peron (yes, she did it before Patti) in 'Evita' and Grizabella (yes, she did it before Betty), she also starred in the West End productions of 'Chess,' 'Anything Goes,' 'Piaf,' 'Sunset Boulevard,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'The King and I', and 'The Drowsy Chaperone.' She made her Broadway debut in 1996 in 'Sunset Boulevard' and returned to Broadway in the 2012 Production of 'Follies.' She’s recorded 18 solo albums, 7 cast albums, had several top 10 hits, performed concerts all over the world, and in 1995, Queen Elizabeth herself appointed Elaine appointed her an officer of the Order of the British Empire.